RESEACHERS ACCESS TO PUBLIC DATA PURSUANT TO
RESEACHERS ACCESS TO PUBLIC DATA PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 40 (12)
of the EU DIGITAL SERVICES ACT (DSA): FAQs

1)What is this about?

Under Article 40(12) of EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), SHEIN is required to provide access to researchers to its publicly available data to researchers, so long as certain conditions are met.

2)Who can get access?

Researchers must meet all the following eligibility criteria:
  • Be independent of commercial interests
  • Disclose who is funding their research
  • Have strong processes to protect personal and confidential data, and explain these processes in their application
  • The purpose of the research must contribute to the goals set out in the DSA.

3)What kind of data is included?

  • Only publicly accessible data that anyone can see on SHEIN’s platform’s interface (like product or seller’s information, reviews etc.)
  • Real-time data, if it’s technically feasible for the platform to provide it.

4)What does ‘publicly available data’ mean?

SHEIN offers access to data that is already visible to the public through its online interface. This includes, but is not limited to, the following categories:
A. Product Information
  • Product URLs
  • Product titles and SKU numbers
  • Star ratings and customer reviews
  • Pricing, colour, and size options
  • Product images and detailed descriptions
B. Seller Information
  • Seller registration details
  • Product offering details (e.g. estimated number of recent sales and re-purchases)
  • Price ranges and promotions
  • Seller ratings and number of followers
C. Other Data
  • Information published in SHEIN’s Transparency Reports (available on SHEIN’s website)
Note: Researchers may also request access to other types of publicly accessible data not specifically listed above.

5)What must be the purpose of the research?

Researchers must be doing research that helps identify or understand systemic risks of online platforms in the EU (e.g. spread of illegal content, disinformation, threats to public health, mental wellbeing, elections, etc.)

6)How can researchers apply for access to this data?

To apply for access, researchers must submit an application through "Application form for researchers’ access to publicly accessible data on SHEIN’s interface".

7)What will happen after completing the form?

SHEIN will contact the researcher back to the email address provided at the application form. SHEIN will then review the application form and may ask the researcher to provide additional evidence needed, for example, to confirm affiliation to a research institution and origins of the funding of the research.

8)How will access to the data be granted?

SHEIN is open to accommodate researchers’ needs. For example, SHEIN is prepared to deploy APIs to enable real-time data access (where available), tailored to the specific data needs and technical capabilities of researchers. SHEIN can also share data via Microsoft SharePoint or email or allow researchers scraping/crawling of the website, if feasible and preferred by researchers. All of this can be the subject of open and collaborative discussion between SHEIN and the researcher.

9)What can researchers do with the data?

Researchers must use the data solely for the research project described in their application. It must not be used for any commercial purposes or shared inappropriately with third parties. Researchers are also required to fully respect all applicable rules around privacy, confidentiality, and data protection.